« Adventures In Copyright: Give It A Pearl

B for Beauty May 18, 2009 @ 11:46am

Would You Wear Red Eyeshadow?

agnete at thakoon.jpg I watched last week’s episode of The Fashion Show (slightly annoying, but will suffice until Project Runway’s triumphant return) over the weekend and I was stopped cold by Lidia’s unfortunate red eyeshadow.

Red shadow’s been done well both editorially and on the runway - Nars’ Diane Kendal did a fantastic reddish-brown smoky eye for Thakoon’s AW09 show - but we’ve never seen it work well in real life. I think it would require a darker skin tone because on Lidia’s pale face it came off looking more rash-like than avant-garde.

Recently, a few notable brands have launched shadows in the grenadine color family and I am seriously at a loss to think of who, besides a makeup artist, would actually purchase the hues. I just can’t see this look parading down the streets without causing some worried glances or frantic calls to the CDC.

But maybe I’m just missing something. Is there a successful way to translate this trend from the runway to real life?

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

« Adventures In Copyright: Give It A Pearl

Fashionista Main

Streetwalker: Purple Haze »

posted by kimberleycheri

May 18, 2009 11:57AM

Yes this can done be successfully, but the key to success is starting with a brown base color and work in a more of a brick hue. You don't want to have a contagious 'pink eye' look.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 12:02PM

Definitely agree with #1. I absolutely love to sport a sexy brick red hue mixed with dark brown and yellow. I also think its success also relies on eye color to give the red a "pop" (I have greenish brown eyes).

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 12:03PM

I agree with you both, but if its too red it could look like you have conjunctivitis!

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 12:06PM

Diane Lane pulls it off in "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains". And that has always been my inspiration for red eye shadow. Though I have yet to find a hue quite as punk-rock as hers.

http://pullquote.typepad.com/pullquote/images/2008/10/29/cap322.jpg

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082639/

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 12:14PM

I have a pinkish-reddish shadow that I love using. I usually use a very light brown base and then work the eyeshadow as more of an all-around-the-eye eyeliner and throw on a coat of mascara. I like the look and so far no one has asked me if I'm dying or sick. I think they key is finding the shade that works with your own skin tone. Sort of like pulling off a red lipstick, perhaps?

posted by Megs252

May 18, 2009 12:16PM

Check out Nars' single eye shadow in Grenadines. It's just about as red as you can get.

I still don't know, it looks so fantastic in pictures, but if I saw it on the street I don't know if I would have the same "oh wow" reaction. Maybe I'm just not adventurous enough on the shadow front to pull this one off.

posted by Jac

May 18, 2009 12:24PM

In highschool, I used to put red lip liner above my black eyeliner. (Im brunette, tan, brown eyes). I would always get compliments on it (from people not in high school too lol). I think this is def a look for darker skin tones though. Brown eyes too.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 12:35PM

i might not go with a fire engine red, but as other commenters said, a brick red. also, i'd keep it away from the lash line to avoid the conjunctivitis look and keep it in my crease. the keys to wearing pretty much any color on your eyes are these: make sure it's a hue that suits your skin tone and blend blend blend. as long as you avoid harsh lines and blend everything out, it will look 100x better.

posted by mosha010

May 18, 2009 1:32PM

i use mac paint in a brick red color and then on top i smudge a bright red with black on the crease, maybe because my complexion is olive (im latina) i dont look gothic or sick at all.. it just looks super chic. i even smoky eye myself with it and it still looks great.. i just mix a matte black or a matte brown to diffuminate.. and muted lipcolor..

posted by Pretty Young Thing

May 18, 2009 1:38PM

I think when red eyeshadow is used close to the lashes it looks very rave-druggie... like F/W 09 Topshop. Icky. I think that's the real scary look that's unwearable. In contrast the photo above looks gorgeous- although it definitely looks more brown than red...

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 2:58PM

As an extremely pale girl I'll put a little swoop of bright red eyeshadow in the corner going out from the crease to make whatever color I'm using as a base pop... It looks really cool and different, but because I've never been able to find a really great high end powder red eyeshadow I use one from a teeny bopper drugstore valentine's day kit...

posted by Signature9

May 18, 2009 6:44PM

The brick red, or an orangish red definitely makes the difference. The best way to wear it is along the crease, with a lighter yellow or pale gold shade along the lashline. Mascara also helps make it look intentional rather than like an illness. It's definitely something that's easier to pull off on brown skin, but for the pale girls who want to try it, use a bright colored blush instead of shadow. It's not as heavily pigmented so you can slowly build it up.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 9:48PM

I'm going to buck the trend because im fair haired, pale skinned and blue eyed and i rock Nars eyeshadow in a shade from a little while back called emannuelle which is quite a bright red, not brick, and i use it as an eyeliner. i think it really depends on your colouring cause a friend with darker hair and paler skin tried it and she looked ill but somehow it works for me. *shrug*

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 10:40AM

I have a darker olive skin complexion, but I really like the almost maroon color from mary kay double espresso. I use the reddish one in the crease with a beigy goldish color on the lid and the dark brown as a liner. Its very subtle and a great alternative to my usual beige and browns. I never tried i til recently and now I'm hooked.

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 2:26PM

for girls who are pale & blue-eyed, i think a red that is more like blood-orange would look great... but in moderation of course

posted by darcykins

May 19, 2009 4:07PM

pale skin, dark hair and eyes.
i like the look i get using cheap red (actually red not like the picture here) eye shadow. it looks a bit like i've been up all night doing drugs, but in a good way.
it looks like the pic of myf in this post from a couple weeks ago: http://fashionista.com/2009/04/mid-day_snack_9.php
which tackled the same topic.

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 5:17PM

yes! i have green eyes and wear MAC's cranberry shadow all the time, i always get compliments. :)

posted by guest

May 20, 2009 8:00PM

I'm super pale, blue eyes, and have dark brown hair. Teracotta by Stila (http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P202021&categoryId=B70) looks SO COOL on me. (I don't even use the brown that comes with it.) With black eyeliner and black mascara, plus a teensy bit of blush = totally impressive look!!!

posted by guest

May 21, 2009 1:42PM

Okay. I'm just saying this because I care.

If you have fair skin, there are things you need to do with red eyeshadow so that you can pull it off. Read most of the above.

NOW. I did know one girl who put red eyeshadow on everyday. I'm sure she thought it looked good. But she looked SICK. Don't. I repeat. DON'T let that happen to you. It's one thing if it looks "good" on the runway or in magazines. It's a totally different setting!

posted by skididyedegie

Jun 09, 2009 3:32AM

I think that a candy apple red shade of eyeshadow would honestly be awesome! Hear me out, though.
I have reddish-brown eyes and dark brown hair. I think I would use some chestnut brown eyeshadow as a base (to be closer to the line of my eyes) and then brush on the red eyeshadow on the crease - and maybe even blend it a little underneath the crease. I've never thought about trying that until now, but I think with the right shades of blush and lip gloss - both toned down to accentuate the eyeshadow of course - it would look really hott.

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 8:01PM

well, it seems obvious to me from the above comments that people with pale skin can pull this off. I believe its about your attitude and confidence. also your blending skills. if you're lacking in those areas then red is not for you.